Fantastic Four

Me and my siblings, that is. 

These three are some of my best friends. 

These are the people I can rely on when I need an ear willing to listen and open arms to hug. 

Over the years, unfortunately, life happens: Kristen went off to college, I went off to college, Kristen moved back to OC, then she moved back to AZ, we missed birthday parties and graduations. 

BUT we are as close as ever and I couldn't be more proud of my sibs!

Here are some pictures of us over the years... 

Feb 1998
Me, Kristen and Lenny at our home-style photo shoot

Dec 2006
Kristen, Lewis, Lenny and me at our Christmas  dinner

June 2010
Kristen, Lewis, me and Lenny at my college graduation ceremony

February 2012
Lenny, Lewis, me and Kristen

May 2012
Me, Lenny and Kristen

 Oh yeah, and these little brothers of mine are in the CIF Championship game at Angels Stadium Tomorrow!!! Go Spartans!!!

November 2012
Lenny, Kristen, me and Lewis after their semi-final 34-33 victory over Tustin HS

Hugs and Gratitude

1. This is so special! I used to be the person who didn't like others touching me or getting too close lol Now I look back and just laugh. That's so silly. A hug is a simple but touching, literally haha, gesture that one can give. Not to mention it takes almost no time at all. So, I'll be hugging my loved ones this Thanksgiving break, that's for sure!

2. Don't you just love this quote?! It speaks to anyone, anywhere and that's the best part. Things to remember (and I say this mostly as a reminder to myself): 

Live without regrets or "what ifs" 

When the opportunity arises, express appreciation and thankfulness

Be kind, always

Smile, you never know who's day you'll make

And to sum it all up, here's another goody...

"Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly"

I'm Back...Again

I know that you are all thinking, "Kayla, you have said this so many times!" But this time I am for real. Like for real, for real. So allow me to catch you up on my life since be the beginning of October

I hosted a "Fall Party" where we dressed in fall-like clothes, ate fall-type pinterest creations and went to the pumpkin patch. Justin and I may or may not have gotten lost in the corn maze for over an hour (thank you, high school student worker for showing us the way out!).

Spent the weekend with Pops!

We ate Randy's (nasty) donuts, got the car washed, handled tenant duties (where we state our names as Michael and Kim, long story) and went shopping at Nordstrom rack!!

Took these two SA's to a NCAA Leadership Forum in Dallas, Tx

We feasted on TONS of food

 The NCAA does a fabulous job of making sure that your every need is taken care of. I'm talking about EVERYTHING! I called and talked to a travel agent to arrange our flights, they held the forum at an awesome-over-the-top nice hotel, my room was like a penthouse, the food was never ending, and they created a "fun zone" for the students in a huge ball room (we're talking arcade machines,  ping pong tables, pool tables, tv with couches and stadium seating, basketball hoops, "just dance" and wii games, simulated driving games and more...

Filled out my ballot and checked the box for Barack Obama!!

Took that bad boy to the poll and got my sticker :)

Traveled with a team that takes their shirts off when eating as to not spill on themselves

Got great seats for the Cal/Oregon football game

Good thing we left after Cal scored (for their last time in the game)! Perfect Timing!!

Many more posts are in my/your future. Partly because I like doing this as a study break and partly because I'm determined to succeed at this blogging thing.